The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-05-25
PLAIN FACTS

It is fact, however unpleasant lis
admission may be, that the town OF
Manning falls far short Of being The
business place its advantages and op-
portunities give room for, and asa
consequence, there is lack Of pros
perity, manifestedly apparent, in eve
~ business or trade or profession
eTrade is dull" "hald times" and
similar gloomy mutterings are uni1ers-
al among merchants and those Of tAe
other avocations depending on poo,;c
patronage 'Tis true these are stera-
otyped phrases to be heard the worl |
over, but in Manning they have a
special significance. Our town IS not
progressing but is at a stand-sda OF
even retrograding. With q COUNT
Ike Clarendon, its resources, peop.2d
by an industrious, vigorous popu.ace,
there must be some cause, and one
shat can be remedied, to produce this
stagnation in business. The enquirer
will find two grievances that have nil
itated against the growth Of this town
and county. First and paramont, the
people have allowed themselves to be-
come welded to the practice Of spend,
ing their money abroad, thus leaving
It where its benefits are lost entirely
at home, and go to build a stranger
town. This disposition to seek
abroad what can be found at home
has grown to such an extent that mum
bers ofIthe best c: izens Of the county
not only go elsewhere to buy their
merchandise, but to procure their III
surance, their legal advice, and in fact
transact their entire business affairs
beyond the limits of their OWE coun-
ty. The effect OF this is that the IN
dnssries and enterprises of Clarendon
areill patronizsd and are losing money,
while the pocket Of q disintelested
outsider jingles with the money,
rightfully belonging here. A n1er-
chant of a neiglboring town was
heard to remark TO merchant o.
Meaning, aWhy. sir, I sell more goods
10 the people of your town and coun-
sy, than ! sell to customers here.
The second grievance can be rene
died by our merchants themselves.
They should put forth every effort to
induce the trade Of the county to come
here. To 30 this they must sell their
goods at reasonable cash profit, ani.
keep a stock in store equal to tie de-
mands oil. the trade. Then, with 30
selfish end in view, We suggest that
they advertise their goods before the
people. Do this becouse ls1s done
elsewhere, which places the home mer-
chant at disadvantage. And again
our merchants ought to stop this
hue and cry that Sumter is g cheaper
place to buy goods at than Manning.
We Go not know that it IS true, but
we certainly know that it ought not to
be. Manning is as conTenient to tie
comm. ,rcial marts of the word assum-
ser. and y ,th no noticeable difference
in freight charg this market sho'Sd
be in every way IS cheap
There is a better day ahead for
Manning, for Clarendon:' and its cit
zens, if the people now step the nlsez-
able practice Of seeking abroad what
can be had at home for the same
money. We feel sure the people S2ll
do their duty, if the trades and pro
LESSONS will do theirs. Let HE man.
Of trade put this distinguished gen
tleman, M:. Ego, on the same plane
with the interests of his fellow citizens
and county and town, and display
greater zeal and activity IN competing
Tor the public patronage, and all Will
Ia nall